Cabinet with means for making receptacle therein accessible



June 11, 1968 UNDENSCHWDT ET AL 3,387,905

CABINET WITH MEANS FOR MAKING RECEPTACLE THEREIN ACCESSIBLE Filed Sept.15, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS.

ROBERT E. LINDENSCHMIDT CARLEN R. GANT June 11, 1968 R. E. LINDENSCHMIDTET AL 3,387,905

CABINET WITH MEANS FOR MAKING RECEPTACLE THEREIN ACCESSIBLE Filed Sept.15, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

ROBERT E. LINDENSCHMIDT CARLEN R. GANT June 1968 R. E. LINDENSCHMIDTETAL 3,387,905

CABINET WITH MEANS FOR MAKING RECEPTACLE THEREIN ACCESSIBLE Filed Sept.15, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. ROBERT. E. LINDENSCHMIDT CAR N R.GANT This invention relates to cabinet structures and in particular tocabinet structures having one or more internal receptacles and means formaking such receptacles accessible when desired.

In one conventional cabinet structure such as a freezer cabinetstructure, a plurality of receptacles in the form of goods holdingbaskets are disposed within the freezer compartment. Access to thefreezer compartment is provided by means of a front opening selectivelyclosed by a door. In the known constructions, the baskets may be movablycarried therein as on slides or rollers. The present inventioncomprehends an improved structure for causing such compartment mountedreceptacles to be made accessible as a concomitant of the opening of thecabinet door.

Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of anew and improved cabinet structure.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a cabinetstructure including a receptacle disposed within a cabinet compartmentand new and improved means for making said receptacle accessible to auser as desired.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a cabinetstructure having new and improved means for releasably connecting thedoor of the cabinet to a receptacle for movement with the door when thedoor is moved from a closed position to a partially opened position anddisassociating the door from the receptacle when the door is movedbeyond the partially, opened position.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a cabinetstructure including means for biasing the receptacle to a retractedposition within the cabinet compartment.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of such acabinet structure wherein the biasing means includes adjustable meansfor controlling the levelness of the receptacle with respect to thebottom of the compartrnent.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of such connectingmeans for automatically reconnecting the door to the receptacle when thedoor is swung from beyond the partially opened position back to theclosed position.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such acabinet structure further including means for selectively disabling theconnecting means to permit movement of the cabinet door independently ofthe receptacle when desired.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a cabinetstructure including a second such rece tacle and means for moving thesecond receptacle as a concomitant of movement of the door.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of such acabinet structure wherein the second receptacle is releasably connectedto the first receptacle for controlled movement thereof as a result ofmovement of the door.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a cabinetstructure wherein the means for moving the second receptacle as a resultof movement of the door includes means for effectively disabling thesame to permit movement of the door independently of the secondreceptacle when desired.

States Patent Patented June 11, 1968 ice Still another feature of theinvention is the provision of such a cabinet structure wherein thereceptacle mounting means comprises means for pivotally carrying thereceptacle about a generally vertical axis.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a cabinetstructure wherein the means for mounting a plurality of such receptaclescomprises means for pivotally carrying the receptacles about a commonpivotal axis one above the other.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cabinet structureembodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical section thereof taken substantiallyalong the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view thereof illustratingthe arrangement thereof upon release of the second basket fromassociation with the first basket;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view thereof illustrating thearrangement thereof upon release of the first basket from the meansconnecting it to the door;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view illustrating theselective positioning of the connecting arm in a released position infull lines, and in a basket connecting position in dotted lines;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary bottom view of the connecting arm in thereleased position;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the means forconnecting the upper basket to the lower basket in a released position;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section thereof taken substantially along theline 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view thereof;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially alongthe line 10-40 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially alongthe line 1111 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary isometric view of the pivot means formounting the baskets; and

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially alongthe line 1313 of FIGURE 11.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in thedrawing, a cabinet structure generally designated 10 is shown tocomprise a cabinet 11 defining a compartment 12. Access to thecompartment is provided through a front opening 13 selectively closeableby a door 14 movably carried on the cabinet 11 by suitable hinges 15 forpivotal movement about a generally vertical axis. In the illustratedembodiment, the cabinet structure 10 comprises a freezer cabinetstructure wherein the cabinet f1 comprises an insulated cabinet withcompartment 12 being suitably refrigerated by conventional refrigerationmeans (not shown).

As shown in FIGURE 1, a pair of receptacles 16 and 17 are providedwithin the compartment 12. Herein, the receptacles comprise wire basketssuch as conventionally provided for holding frozen foods and the like.As shown, the baskets 16 and 17 are normally disposed in a retractedposition within compartment 12 rearwnrdly of the front opening 13.Basket 17 may be disposed within the compartment 12 closely above basket16 for efficient utilization of the refrigerated space within thecompartment. In utilizing the baskets 16 and 17, it is desirable thatthe baskets be movable from the recessed position within compartment 12to a forward accessible position at opening 13. For this pur ose, thebaskets are carried for pivotal movement (herein about a common,substantially vertical axis) by means of a lower pivot rod 13 and anupper, axially aligned pivot rod 19, basket 16 being fixedly secured atone corner 2t! to the lower rod 18 and basket 17 being fixedly securedat one corner 21 to the 3 upper pivot rod 19. As shown in FIGURES l and11, the corners and 21 are inturned to accommodate the pivot rods, withthe rods being fixedly secured thereto as by welding or the like.

The lower pivot rod 18 has a lower end 22 pivotally carried in a bearing23 adjustably mounted in a lower mounting block 24, and an upper end 25rotatably carried in a bearing 26 carried by a mid-bracket 27. The upperpivot rod 19 has a lower end 28 rotatably carried in the bearing 26 andan upper end 29 rotatably carried in a bearing 30 adjustably mounted inan upper mounting block 31. As best seen in FIGURES l0 and 11, thealigned rods 18 and 19* extend in compartment 12 at a slight angle tothe vertical, both upwardly to the right as seen in FIGURE 10 andupwardly to the rear as seen in FIG- URE 11, thereby biasing the basketspivotally to the retracted position of FIGURE 1 when the baskets areallowed to move freely on the pivot rods under the influence of gravity.

As indicated briefly above, when. the user opens the cabinet door 14, itis desirable that the baskets 16 and 17 be moved from the retractedposition of FIGURE l for wardly to be accessible at the opening 13. Toeffect such desirable controlled positioning of the baskets, a connector32 is provided on the door having selective engagement with a catch 33on basket 16 and a latch member 34 is provided on basket 17 havingselective engagement with the catch 33. In the illustrated embodiment,the connector 32, catch 33, and latch 34 are cooperatively associated soas to cause both baskets 16 and 17 to swing outwardly on the axis ofrods 18, 19 to a first accessible position when the door is moved to afirst partially open position, such as illustrated in FIGURE 3. At thispoint, the latch 34 is released from the catch 33 and further outwardmovement of the door causes further outward movement of the lower basket16 only. When the door 14 swings outwardly to a second partially openposition with the basket 16 being then disposed at a second accessibleposition as shown in FIGURE 4, connector 32 is disengaged from the catch33- permitting the door to be swung to a fully open position outwardlybeyond the second partially open position independently of the baskets.The bias on the baskets l6 and 17 tending to restore them to theretracted position of FIGURE 1 is preferably relatively small so thatthe baskets remain accessible for a sufficient period of time to permitthe user to manually retain the selected basket as desired.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE 2, the connector 32 may beseen to include an arm 35 pivotally carried on a bracket 36 mounted onthe rear of door 14 by suitable means such as screws 37. The arm carriesat its distal end a slide member 38 which rests on a horizontal plate 39extending transversely along the upper front wire portion 40 of thelower basket 16. As shown in FIGURE 2, the catch 33 further includes afront upright ledge portion 41 and a rear upright ledge portion 42defining therebetween a channel 43 in which the slide member 38 isreceived in the retracted position of the structure as shown inFIGURE 1. The catch 33 further includes a front forwardly inclinedcamming portion 44 and a rear, rearwardly inclined camming portion 45extending to below the level of the horizontal plate portion 39. Thefront ledge 41 terminates at a shoulder 46 at a point somewhat to theleft of the center of the midportion of the catch 33, as shown in FIGURE3. The catch may be secured to the basket by suitable means such asmounting structure 47 including a depending flange 48 on the catch plate39, a pair of clamp plates 49 and 50 clamped to the flange 48 bysuitable means such as screws 51 and a formed retainer 52 having ahooked lower end 53 engaging a lower wire 54 of the basket 16 and ahooked upper end 55 extending over the upper wire 40 and downwardlybetween clamp member 50 and flange 48.

The connector arm 35 may be retained in a retracted position, as shownin FIGURE 5, by a catch 56 on bracket 36 which includes a pair of springfingers 57 provided at their distal ends with catches 58 releasablyreceivable in a slot 59 in the connector arm 35. Thus, the connector maybe rendered inoperative when desired, as shown in full lines in FIGURE5, to permit the door 14 to be swung open independently of the baskets16 and 17.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 7 through 9, latch 34includes a latch. member 60 having a lower V-shaped cam portion 61normally received in channel 43. The latch member 60 comprises a flatmember mounted for free vertical substantially planar movement in a housing 62 carried on the upper front wires 63, 64 and 65 of the upperbasket 17. The latch housing 62 is provided with a front wall 66 havingan upwardly opening slot 67 in which is freely movable a forwardlyprojecting catch. portion 68 of the latch member 60. The latch 68 issuitably recessed to engage the basket wire 63 in an uppermost positionof the latch member, as shown in FIGURE 8, to retain the latch member inan inoperative position when desired. As shown in FIGURE 8, to disposethe catch 68 in engagement with the wire 63, the catch is sprungrearwardly of the wire and then allowed to spring forwardly intoengagement therewith. Release of the catch is effected by a rearwarddepression thereof followed by a downward movement of the latch toposition the catch to below the wire 63.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 4, the operation of the cabinetstructure 10 is automatically effected as follows. The latch 34 isnormally in the lower position with the cam portion 6]. received in thechannel 43 and i the connector 32 is disposed with the slide member 38also received in channel 43 when the door 14 is in the closed position.As the user swings the door 14- from the closed position of FIGURE 1 tothe partially open position of FIGURE 3, the baskets 16 and 17 are swungon the axis of pivot rods '18 and 19 by the forward pulling force of theslide member 38 against the flange 41. As the baskets 16 and 17 and door14 swing outwardly, the slide member 38 moves longitudinally throughchannel 43 to engage the cam portion 61 of the latch 34. Concurrently,the basket 17 is swung with basket 16 by the engagement of the latchmember 60 with the rear flange 42 of the catch 33. When the slide member38 is moved sufiiciently outwardly through the channel, i.e., towardshoulder 46,

the slide member engages the cam surface 61 causing the latch member toride up on the slide member to dispose the latch member 60- in the upperposition thereof as shown in FIGURE 2, out of channel 43 and therebypermit the lower basket 16 to move from under the upper basket 17. Whenthe catch 33 moves to forwardly of the latch 34, as shown in FIGURE 4,the latch member 60 moves back downwardly from the housing 62.

Continued outward swinging of the door 14 causes the slide member 38 tocontinue to move through the channel 43 until it moves outwardly ofshoulder 46, thereby disengaging the connector arm 35 from the catch 33and permitting the door 14 to be swung to the fully open positionindependently of the lower basket 16. As the biasing of the baskets tothe retracted. position effected by the slight angularity of the pivotrods causes the baskets to swing slowly back to the retracted positionof FIG- URE 1, the user may effectively retain either of the baskets inthe forwardly disposed accessible position thereof. Illustratively, ifthe user merely wishes access tobasket 16, he may allow basket 17 toreturn to the retracted position while swinging basket 16 to the fullyaccessible position, or, alternatively, if he wishes access to the upperbasket 17, he may swing this basket to the fully accessible position,and in doing so the latch 34 will ride up on camming portion 45 of catch33 to have the camming portion 61 again received in the channel 43. Ifthe user wishes only basket 16 to be swung out automatically asdiscussed above, he may disable the latch 34 by engaging the catch 68thereof with the wire 63, as shown in FIG- URE 9, whereupon the basket17 will remain in the retracted position independently of the automaticswinging of the basket 16 effected by the connector 32 as describedabove.

In closing door 14, the slide member 38 rides up on the forward cammingportion 44 to be returned to its normal position in channel 43, as shownin FIGURE 1. In the event that the basket 16 is so positioned that theslide member 38 rides up onto the plate portion 39 to the left of theshoulder 46, the slide member 38 moves back into the channel 43 as thedoor and basket are swung to the position of FIGURE 1. In the event thatthe latch member 60 is disposed in the channel 43 at this time, theslide member 38 cams the latch member upwardly so as to pass thereunderto the fully retracted position of FIG- URE 1. If the baskets are in thefully retracted position, the slide member 38 of the connector 32 merelyslides up on the cam portion 44 to the right of the latch member 60, asseen in FIGURE 1, directly back to the fully retracted position therein.In the event that the basket 17 is in the retracted position when thebasket 16 is swung back to the retracted position, the latch member 60rides up on the rear cam portion 45 into the channel 43.

As indicated briefly above, the pivot rods 18 and 19 are carried inbearings 23 and 30 which are adjustably mounted in the respectivebrackets 24 and 31. Thus, suitable adjustment of the angularity of thepivot rods for control of the levelness of the baskets with respect tothe compartment is effectively provided. More specifically, as shown inFIGURE 13, the lower bearing 23 is slidably carried on the lower wall 69of the bracket 24. An adjustment member, herein a screw 70, is threadedthrough a nut 71 carried in the bearing 23. The bearing 23 tends to moveto the right, as shown in FIGURE 13, as a result of the weight of thebasket 16 carried thereby and the relatively fixed disposition of theupper end 25 of the rod 18 in the bearing 26. The head 72 of screw 70bears against an upright wall 73 on the bracket 24 so as to limit themovement of the bearing 23 and, thus, control the positioning of thebearing by the threaded adjustment of the screw 70.

The upper bearing 36 comprises a member slidably received in a slot 74in the mounting block 31. An adjusting member in the form of a screw 75is threaded through a nut 76 carried in the mounting block 31 forwardlyof the slot 74. Member 30 may be formed of a suitable material, such asnylon, and may be provided with a guide plate 77 against which the innerend 78 of the screw 75 bears as the screw is threaded through the nutagainst the member 30. Pivot rod 19 tends to pivot in a counterclockwisedirection, as seen in FIGURE 13, as a result of the weight of basket 17carried thereby and, thus, screw 75 adjusts the angle disposition of thepivot rod and thus the levelness of the basket by the adjustabledisposition of the screw end 78 against which the plate 77 abuts. Thus,the user may control the levelness of the respective baskets 16 and 17with respect tothe compartment by suitable adjustment of screws 70 and75 as discussed above. While we have shown and described one embodimentof our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of manymodifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangamentmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined in the appended claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. Structure comprising: cabinet means defining a storage space andhaving an access opening; means defining a closure; means for swingablymounting said closure means on said cabinet means for selectivelyclosing said opens; a receptacle; means for movably mounting saidreceptacle in said space adjacent said opening; and

means releasably connecting said closure to said receptacle for movementof said receptacle from a retracted position substantially fully withinsaid space outwardly through said opening when said closure is swungfrom a closed position to a partially open position and for release ofsaid receptacle as a result of said closure being swung further fromsaid closed position beyond said partially open position.

2. The structure of claim 1 including means for biasing said receptacleto said retracted position whereby said receptacle returns to saidretracted position when said connecting means releases the receptacle.

3. The structure of claim 1 including adjustable means for leveling saidreceptacle within said space.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said connecting means is arrangedfor automatically reconnecting said closure to said receptacle when saidclosure is swung from beyond said partially open position to said closedposition.

5. The structure of claim 1 further including means for selectivelydisabling said connecting means whereby said closure may be swung fromand to said closed position independently of said receptacle.

6. The structure of claim 1 further including a second receptacle, meansfor movably mounting said second receptacle in said space adjacent saidopening, and means for moving said second receptacle from a retractedposition substantially fully within said space outwardly through saidopening when said closure is swung from a closed position to a secondpartially open position intermediate said closed position and saidfirst-named partially open position and for release of said secondreceptacle as a result of said closure being swung further from saidclosed position beyond said second partially open position.

'7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said means for moving said secondreceptacle comprises means releasably connecting said second receptacleto said first-named receptacle.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said first-named connecting meansincludes means for releasing said second-named connecting means as aresult of said closure being swung to said second partially openposition.

9. The structure of claim 1 including means for gravitationally biasingsaid receptacle to said retracted position whereby said receptaclereturns to said retracted position when said connecting means releasesthe receptacle.

10. The structure of claim 1 further including a second receptacle,means for movably mounting said second receptacle in said space adjacentsaid opening, means for moving said second receptacle from a retractedposition substantially fully within said space outwardly through saidopening when said closure is swung from a closed position to a secondpartially open position intermediate said closed position and saidfirst-named partially open position and for release of said secondreceptacle as a result of said closure being swung further from saidclosed position, and means for selectively disabling said means formoving said second receptacle whereby said closure may be swung from andto said closed position independently of said second receptacle.

11. The structure of claim 1 including adjustable means for levelingsaid receptacle within said space, said movable receptacle mountingmeans comprising pivot means having a substantially upright axis andsaid adjustable means comprising means for adjusting the angulardisposition of said axis.

12. The structure of claim 1 wherein said closure mounting meanscomprises means pivotally mounting said closure for swinging movementabout a substantially vertical axis.

13. The structure of claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises achannel member carried by said receptacle and a hook member carried bysaid closure, said hook member having a turned distal end slidablyreleasably received in said channel member.

14. The structure of claim 1 further including a second receptacle,means for movably mounting said second receptacle in said space adjacentsaid opening and said first-named receptacle, and means for moving saidsecond receptacle from a retracted position substantially fully withinsaid space outwardly through said opening when said closure is swungfrom a closed position to a second partially open position intermediatesaid closed position and said first-named partially open position andfor release of said second receptacle as a result of said closure beingswung further from said closed position beyond said second partiallyopen position, said receptacles being disposed one above the other intheir retracted positions.

15. The structure of claim 1 further including a second receptacle,means for movably mounting said second receptacle in said space adjacentsaid opening, and means for moving said second receptacle from aretracted position substantially fully within said space outwardlythrough said opening when said closure is swung from a closed positionto a second partially open position intermediate said closcd positionand said first-named, partially open position and for release of saidsecond receptacle as a result of said closure being swung further fromsaid closed position beyond said second partially open position, saidmeans for mounting said receptacles comprising means for pivotallymounting said receptacles for movement about a common substantiallyupright axis.

16. The structure of claim 1 further including a second receptacle,means for movably mounting said second receptacle in said space adjacentsaid opening, and means for moving said second receptacle from aretracted position substantially fully within said space outwardlythrough said opening when said closure is swung from a closed positionto a second partially open position intermediate said closed positionand said first-named partially open References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,899,171 2/1933 Warren 3l2275 2,112,771 3/1938 Goulooze 312*2752,800,381 7/1957 Lewis 312274 3,016,276 1/1962 Morse 3l2-274 JAMES T.MCCALL, Primary Examiner.

1. STRUCTURE COMPRISING: CABINET MEANS DEFINING A STORAGE SPACE ANDHAVING AN ACCESS OPENING; MEANS DEFINING A CLOSURE; MEANS FOR SWINGABLYMOUNTING SAID CLOSURE MEANS ON SAID CABINET MEANS FOR SELECTIVELYCLOSING SAID OPENING; A RECEPTACLE; MEANS FOR MOVABLY MOUNTING SAIDRECEPTACLE IN SAID SPACE ADJACENT SAID OPENING; AND MEANS RELEASABLYCONNECTING SAID CLOSURE TO SAID RECEPTACLE FOR MOVEMENT OF SAIDRECEPTACLE FROM A RETRACTED POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY FULLY WITHIN SAIDSPACE OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING WHEN SAID CLOSURE IS SWUNG FROM ACLOSED POSITION TO A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION AND FOR RELEASE OF SAIDRECEPTACLE AS A RESULT OF SAID CLOSURE BEING SWUNG FURTHER FROM SAIDCLOSED POSITION BEYOND SAID PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION.